Matt Wilkinson

Matt Wilkinson is chef and co-owner of Melbourne eatery Pope Joan, much-loved for its homely dishes – led by locally grown, seasonal produce – with a distinctly British twist. Matt grew up in South Yorkshire, England. He honed his craft under two-Michelin-starred chef, Martin Wishart before arriving in Australia where he worked at Vue de monde and Circa before opening Pope Joan in 2010. Since that time, Pope Joan has evolved from a daytime café to a bustling neighbourhood hub with the addition of a bar, private dining room, and weeknight dinner service. In early 2013, Matt and business partner Ben Foster opened Hams & Bacon, Pope Joan’s produce store and takeaway hub. In 2012 Matt published his first book, Mr Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables which has been translated into nine languages and sold 100,000 copies worldwide. His second cookbook is due for release in March 2015.